5 favorite fair trade treasures

BeadforLife Tendo Bracelets

I adore these beaded bracelets—and not just because they’ll add a funky pop of color to outfits. BeadforLife excels in conscious charity because it provides a steady income for nearly 240 Ugandan women per year through its bead-making program.

Once enrolled, members first learn how to roll beads out of recycled paper and make them into beautiful jewelry; they’re then taught entrepreneurial skills to continue a sustainable business once they graduate. Ultimately, BeadforLife enables women to become financially independent.

Alaffia Everyday Shea Shampoo and Conditioner

Founded on a mission to improve communities based in Togo, West Africa, Alaffia sets one of the highest benchmarks for conscious sourcing. Alaffia’s new packaging for its hair care line beautifully reflects company initiatives—one of which is providing bicycles to impoverished children and adolescents so they can travel to school.

Sustain Lubricated Ultrathin Condoms

Yes, your condom choice counts! This newly launched company (started by one of Seventh Generation’s co-founders) practices responsible business in every aspect of its production.

From sourcing latex from Fair Trade Certified rubber trees to donating 10 percent of profits to women’s reproductive health care, this is a product customers will be excited to use (in more ways than one).

Eco Lips One World Lip Balms

Can a lip balm truly make a difference? It can, if it’s B Corp Certified, USDA Organic and made with responsibly sourced ingredients. Packaged in a compostable tube, this soothing lip balm is made from Brazil nut and coconut oils and Fair Trade Certified cocoa butter.

Plus, the product is manufactured in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Eco Lips initiated one of the largest solar projects in the state.

Threads 4 Thought

Born out of a passion for humanitarian principles, Threads 4 Thought first made organic cotton T-shirts that spoke of world peace and environmental stewardship. Now, the brand has expanded to include chic dresses, skirts, hoodies, pants and even swimwear.

It makes a difference! According to the 2013 Fair Trade USA Certification report, farmers and farm workers across all product industries and regions have earned more than $153 million in fair-trade premiums since 1998, with the last two years alone representing half of these gains.

Look for these new ethically sourced treasures in your local natural products store.